Brown warning for prison officers
Updated on 30 August 2007
Gordon Brown has warned prison officers there will be no back-down over the delayed pay deal that triggered strike action.
The Prime Minister said staggering public sector pay rises was 'essential' to keep inflation under control'.
Prison officers have returned to work after being offered what they said were 'meaningful talks on the staging of pay'.
Mr Brown said: "The staging of the pay awards are an essential part of controlling inflation in the economy, keeping interest rates and mortgage rates low for home owners and making sure we have stability so we can continue growth and create jobs.
"We will do nothing to put that risk."
The Prison Officers' Association (POA) said 20,000 of its members joined the walkout and most ignored an injunction obtained by the Ministry of Justice warning officers they could be in contempt of court if they did not return to work.
The union's executive decided to end the strike after more than 12 hours and Steve Gough, vice-chirman of the POA, said Justice Secretary Jack Straw had offered "full and meaningful" talks over a pay dispute.
>>Watch the POA Chairman's statement calling off the strike
An independent pay review body recommended that prison officers should be given a 2.5 per cent annual pay increase, but the Government has limited private sector increases to 2 per cent.
They decided to increase pay by 1.5 per cent in April, and another 1 per cent in October.
That equates to a 1.9 per cent increase over 12 months.
POA chairman Colin Moses said the morale of prison staff had been at "rock bottom" and the decision to stage the pay award was the last straw.
He added: "I hope these will be meaningful talks and not merely a stalling tactic.
"I trust the Government have listened to the voice of POA members and that a positive outcome is forthcoming from the discussions."
The union said prisons were becoming more dangerous and violent, with assaults on staff increasing to an average of eight every day.
A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said Mr Straw arranged to meet the union's leadership on Friday, before he knew about the industrial action.
Mr Straw said: "I am glad that the POA has issued this instruction to return to work."
